Adrian Leckie’s words grabbed ears, moved hearts and won the day. The activist who helps Scarborough’s young people find their voice deployed his to elegant effect on July 21, winning Speaker Slam, North America’s largest inspirational speaking competition, at Toronto’s Lula Lounge. His subject: the silence men carry and the courage it takes to finally speak. His speech now takes him to the Grand Slam, the inspirational speaking finals, on Nov. 21 at Glenn Gould Studio; the transcript is below.
I was seven years old, sitting on my old burgundy couch watching Superman. I used to picture myself soaring through the skies of Metropolis with the strength and courage of Superman. But two booming voices cut that dream short. My parents were arguing in the bedroom.
